Greenwood Cemetery

Have you ever wondered what lies beneath the sprawling city of Dallas? Greenwood Cemetery is more than just a place of final rest. It’s a window into Dallas’ rich history, a silent chronicle of lives lived and legacies left behind. The oldest cemetery in Dallas, founded in 1875, it originally was named Trinity Cemetery. It was just outside of the city limits, surrounded by farmland. The very place where this cemetery sits was part of a Republic of Texas grant called the John Grigsby League, given for service in the Battle of San Jacinto. This land was acquired and the cemetery developed by a Civil War veteran and Dallas entrepreneur, William H. Gaston. He was known as the “boy captain” for his swift rise in the ranks of the Confederate army. What might have been an idyllic countryside setting then has now become bustling Uptown Dallas, a reminder that the city itself has grown up around this cemetery. Greenwood Cemetery today stands where cattle used to roam, just as the story of the city has continued to change around it. Greenwood Cemetery offers a unique peek into the past through the lives and stories of those buried here. Take a walk among the headstones and you’ll find the graves of prominent Dallas families, mayors, politicians, and military figures. You’ll also discover the graves of Confederate and Union veterans alike, a testament to the divided history of the city. One of the most interesting burials is that of William Stewart Simkins, who is believed to have fired the very first shot of the Civil War in 1861. You may even find some of the people from your family tree. Greenwood Cemetery is not just a place of the past. It’s a place of reflection and remembrance, a place where the stories of Dallas come to life. It’s a place worth visiting.